La Nucia
| La Nucia | ||
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| Coordinates: 38°37′2″N 0°7′23″W / 38.61722°N 0.12306°WCoordinates: 38°37′2″N 0°7′23″W / 38.61722°N 0.12306°W | ||
| Country | Spain | |
| Autonomous Community | Valencia | |
| Province | Alicante | |
| Comarca | Marina Baja | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Bernabé Cano García (PP) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 21.36 km2 (8.25 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 226 m (741 ft) | |
| Population (2008) | ||
| • Total | 16,958 | |
| • Density | 790/km2 (2,100/sq mi) | |
| Website | http://www.lanucia.es/ | |
La Nucia (Valencian pronunciation: [la nuˈsi.a]) is a municipality in the comarca of Marina Baixa, Alicante, Valencia, Spain. It borders the municipalities Altea, Callosa d'En Sarrià, Benidorm, Polop and L'Alfàs del Pi.
La Nucia is located in a fruit valley between Benidorm and Callosa d'En Sarrià, 3 km from the coast of Altea. The urban center is on a promontory overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, 51 km north of Alicante and 8 km north of Benidorm.
The municipality includes the following housing estates: Barranco Hondo, Coloma, Bello Horizonte, Panorama, and El Tossal.
History
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The name derives from the Arabic word Naziha ("delicious"). It was given by the king James I of Aragon to Beltran de Bellpuig. At the beginning of the seventeenth century, it formed part of the barony of Benidorm and belonged to Alfonso Fajardo, Baron of Polop, of the house of Fajardo de Mendoza.
La Nucia became an independent municipality in 1705, after splitting from the barony of Polop. The parish church, dedicated to La Immaculada Concepció (Immaculate Conception), was constructed in the 18th century.The first settlers of this area were attracted by the lush vegetation of the land and the springs situated on a hill, where the future village of La Nucia was to be located. A spot near the sea and the mountains in a privileged setting, a crossroads leading to the different slopes of the Valley of Guadalest, both in the past in the present.
Today
La Nucia is really beginning to liven up. First the town hall decided to hold a weekly craft market every Sunday morning from 10am till 2 pm, now the local tourist office is beginning to take visitors on a free conducted tour of the old town centre. In various languages, including English. The tours start at 11, 12 and 1 on the Sunday morning, starting at the tourist information stand on the craft market. La Nucia old town centre is a very nice place once you get to know it.
The craft market is doing well. This Sunday twelve stalls turned up, with tiny children's shoes, hand painted cushions, Joan with his 3-dimensional Noah's ark puzzle and wooden puzzles based on photographs, Eva with baskets that looked like they were made of willow but were actually made from re-cycled paper. People with table lamps from fairy tales, a ceramist with feet in all sizes from lamps to ear pendants, Gulia was drawing portraits and Lubos played guitar and sang golden oldies from all over Europe.
The village itself is spotless, with its many parks and gardens immaculately maintained the shops were varied and busy, with hardly an empty unit to be seen. The narrow streets with the colourful houses are a joy to potter round and explore. We popped into the town hall to see what was going on and were rewarded with leaflets and information regarding all sorts of things such as the beautiful sports centre and leisure areas known as “Camilo Cano”. This is on the west of the town, and is a complex of things such as shaded outdoor pools with a handy café/bar to supply those cooling ice creams, tennis courts, football pitches and even climbing walls for the more adventurous! There is also a beautiful indoor pool with a fully equipped gym, sauna and steam room for the colder blooded. Its not all sports though we moved on to have a look at the “Auditorium of the Mediterranean”. This magnificent building which was finished just a few years ago, houses a library and computer facility as well as a fantastic stage. When we were there posters were going up advertising a concert by David Knopfler of “Dire Straits” fame,The streets close to the auditorium are also where the rastro takes place every Sunday morning which is a good place to look for bargains!If you are looking for a shady spot for a picnic after your bargain hunting or exploring,the beautiful park called ‘La Favara’ is the place to be. Just a short stroll from the village,it features a youngster’s play park, beautiful gardens, including drinkable spring water and a bar set in a cave, if you fancy something a little stronger!
Photos
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